Vladimir Putin has mentioned Russia and China are combating “common threats” as he welcomes President Xi Jinping for a three-day journey to Moscow.
Writing in an article within the People’s Daily Newspaper, the Russian president described Mr Xi‘s go to as a “landmark event” that “reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership”.
The outlet is the official newspaper of the ruling Chinese Communist Party.
Mr Xi has returned the favour within the Kremlin’s Rossiiskaya Gazeta every day, claiming a 12-point peace plan drafted by Beijing final month to finish the struggle in Ukraine displays “the unity of the world community’s views”.
The Chinese chief’s go to on Monday is the primary by a overseas chief since an arrest warrant was issued for his Russian counterpart by the International Criminal Court.
Justice ministers from greater than 40 nations, together with Britain’s Dominic Raab, will probably be in London later to help the investigation into alleged struggle crimes – together with the kidnapping of kids.
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Mr Putin – recent off a extremely criticised go to to Mariupol, the Ukrainian metropolis decimated by Russian forces final 12 months – wrote that he and Mr Xi “high expectations for the upcoming talks”.
He described his reverse quantity as a “good old friend” with whom he enjoys the “warmest relationship”, including that Russia’s relations with China are “consistently growing stronger” and at “the highest level in their history”
“We have reached an unprecedented level of trust in our political dialogue, our strategic cooperation has become truly comprehensive in nature and is standing on the brink of a new era,” he wrote.
News of Mr Xi’s journey was confirmed on Friday by China’s overseas affairs ministry, with Russia saying that the Chinese president was invited by Mr Putin himself.
Mr Putin is scheduled to have a one-to-one assembly with Mr Xi on Monday, in response to the Kremlin, earlier than holding additional negotiations on Tuesday and giving a press release to the media.
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Xi requires ‘pragmatism’ on Ukraine
The Chinese president’s article was extra targeted on the struggle in Ukraine, throughout which Beijing has tried to strike a stability between calling for peace and avoiding criticism of Russia.
Mr Xi’s regime has denied US and NATO accusations that it’s contemplating supplying arms to assist the unlawful invasion, which Mr Putin continues to insist in his article was “fuelled by the West”.
He claimed he’s “open to the political and diplomatic resolution of the Ukraine crisis” and welcomed Mr Xi’s latest ceasefire proposals, which the Chinese chief promoted in his article.
His nation’s peace plan – which incorporates respecting “the sovereignty of all countries” and ending any sanctions – is “constructive” and promotes a “political settlement”, Mr Xi claimed.
“Complex problems do not have simple solutions,” he mentioned, however added an finish to the struggle would guarantee “the stability of global production and supply chains”.
A decision could be discovered “if everyone is guided by the concept of common, comprehensive, joint and sustainable security, and continue dialogue and consultations in an equal, prudent and pragmatic manner”, he wrote.
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Economic partnership is ‘precedence’
Mr Putin and Mr Xi additionally pressured the significance of their nations’ financial partnership.
Russia has been broadly reduce off from Western markets for the reason that struggle started in February 2022, however Mr Putin wrote his nation’s commerce with China is “growing, further strengthening the sovereignty of our relations”.
Mr Xi mentioned Beijing and Moscow needed “an all-encompassing partnership” that might ship in a world threatened by “acts of hegemony, despotism, and bullying”.
The two males’s mutual dedication got here as Ukraine signed a brand new digital commerce cope with the UK to assist help its economic system throughout the struggle and future rebuild.
It provides Ukrainian companies entry to UK monetary providers, and permits them to commerce extra effectively and cheaply by means of digital transactions, e-signatures, and e-contracts.
The deal signed nearly on Monday was agreed in precept in November.
Source: information.sky.com”